Thanks so much everyone! Yes indeed, we seem to keep having these once a year! LOVE that PBO and VPB are having a day out of town! They seem to delight in each other’s company! What I find astonishing is in all the photos we see of PBO out greeting people, shaking hands, doing his thing, it is so easy to see in the faces how much he is loved, and how proud the military, even the students are, to have him as CIC! So, how is all this other bullcrap about him being ‘unpopular’ even credible, all anyone needs to do is look at the photos, they are not fake! These faces are genuine, they belong to real people, to people who VOTE! IMHO.

Happy Birthday Pamela, and you are so correct. The news lies, the faces we see do not. I’d really like to see an internal polling which PBO has said his team does, and that the results are what he adheres to in the face of all the negativity. Which is why he continues to seem so supremely confident, naturally.

Pamela, I hope you had a wonderful Birthday! You comment is absolutely spot-on. The media has manufactured the “bullcrap” that the President doesn’t relate to people. I think their problem is that he doesn’t go around kissing the behinds of the so called pundits and WH correspondents. Everywhere he goes, both in this country and abroad, he is greeted with genuine love and enthusiasm. He is one of the politicians, in my lifetime, who genuinely loves to be with regular people. Even the babes and children can attest to that.

I say this because recently, I received a letter from a Vietnam veteran. She wasn’t writing to tell me about her own experience. She just wanted to tell me about her son, Jeremy. Now, Jeremy isn’t deployed, Jeremy’s not a veteran, or even in the military at all, as badly as he wants to follow in the footsteps of his family and enlist. You see, Jeremy has Down Syndrome.

So Jeremy chooses to serve where he can best -– with his local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter in Beaver, Pennsylvania. He calls them “the soldiers”. And one day last spring, Jeremy spent the day with several of these veterans cleaning up a local highway.

“He worked tirelessly,” wrote his mother. “He never asked to take a break. He didn’t stop to talk about his beloved Steelers. He didn’t even ask for anything to eat or drink. He only asked for one thing, several times –- ‘Mom, will President Obama be proud of me for helping the soldiers?’”

Well, Jeremy, I want you to know, yes, I am proud of you. I could not be prouder of you, and your country is proud of you. Thank you for serving our veterans by helping them to continue their service to America.

And Jeremy’s example — one young man’s example — is one that we must all now follow. Because after a decade of war, the nation we now need to build is our own. And just as our Greatest Generation left a country recovering from Depression and returned home to build the largest middle class in history, so now will the 9/11 Generation play a pivotal role in rebuilding America’s opportunity and prosperity in the 21st century.

As Businesses Pull Out Of Alabama Due To Anti-Immigrant Law, Gov. Pleads With Car Companies To Stay

Sheldon Day, the mayor of Thomasville, Alabama, has already seen the reality of McManus’ concerns. After Day recruited a Canadian steel company to Thomasville in July 2010, he said 25 companies have visited the town about building plants there. But he told the Wall Street Journal that since the law went into effect, at least one company turned down a visit because of the immigration law. And Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, a Chinese company that in March pledged to build a $100 million factory in Thomasville, is reconsidering its decision to build a plant in Alabama after the law went into effect.

The mounting concerns among business leaders show a turning point for the immigration law. Already, legislators have weighed in about wanting to change HB 56, and state Attorney General Luther Strange admitted that parts of the harmful law need to be scrapped. For a law that could cost the Alabama economy at least $40 million each year, it should be clear how vital it is for lawmakers in Alabama to do something about the crisis HB 56 created.

The GOP just found yet another way to screw the economy and middleclass folks in Alabama. How the heck were illegal immigrants hurting their economy? Yes, we know that we have an immigration problem but it is not up to Alabama to unjustly seek out an ethnic minority and blame them for all the ills in society. How many Americans will voluntarily toil in the farms and do the burdensome grunt work that illegal immigrants unfortunately have to do and at the same time pay taxes while being treated like scum? The case that Alabama GOP put forward that “they are stealing our jobs” is complete and utter hogwash and now they are reaping what they’ve sowed. Unfortunately, it might now affect those Alabamans who need those jobs from those businesses and had no hand in this inhumane law.

The Mobile TV station feeds into our town here in Fla. Last night there was a story on and several farmers were warning that come spring they are going to lose big money because they don’t have the hands to work the farm. Now, they are talking about probably amending the law somehow.

Boston Police say strategy of trust-building with Occupy Boston led to peaceful end

The strategy by the Boston Police Department from the beginning of the Occupy Boston encampment was to get to know a core group of the protestors and forge a bond of trust, which paved the way for today’s pre-dawn raid that peacefully ended the 10-week rally in Dewey Square with no injuries, police and city leaders said at a morning press conference.

“There’s a great group of kids down there at Occupy Boston,” said Boston Police Superintendent William Evans. “When we needed help, I called them, they called me, and together we were able to get situations that could have gotten out of control back to normal.”

Evans gave his personal cell phone number to some of the group’s core members to use the past two months, and even as police moved in this morning, arresting about 46 protestors who refused to leave, their aim was to keep the bond alive.

“A lot of them we became very friendly with and a few we pleaded with them to not go in the wagon, but unfortunately some of them wanted to get arrested down there,” Evans said.

Police Commissioner Edward Davis said they spent weeks planning and refining their strategy for how they would move in to end the protest, and said that they learned a lot from speaking with police chiefs across the country, especially Philadelphia’s police chief Charles Ramsey.

“They stressed community relations, they stressed transparencey, and so it was really going back to our roots as a community policing department and applying the lessons we learned in the neighborhoods in developing relationships with the protestors,” Davis said.

The thing is, the institutions (e.g. police, rule of law, democracy) that have evolved in this country actually do work when used correctly. It’s not necessary to tear it all down and rebuild it again. That kind of sentiment is spoken by someone who actually doesn’t know their history, and what it’s taken over the years to build up the very institutions that they say don’t work. No need to reinvent the wheel – just work to make it better.

So, tell me, does President Obama get credit for this? Or did these guys just ignore the president, HLS, FBI, CIA, the Secret Government, the Illuminati, and the other officers of the New World Order to prove Naomi Wolf a liar? Inquiring minds want to know, eh, Moore?

President Obama says it’s possible the unemployment rate could dip to 8 percent next fall, according to a CBS release.

Obama said reversing structural problems in the economy “probably takes more than one president,” in an interview conducted by Steve Kroft on Friday at the White House, to be broadcast on “60 Minutes” on Sunday.

KROFT: “Do you think that you might have the unemployment rate [8.6% in Nov.] down to 8 percent by the time the election rolls around?”

OBAMA: “I think it’s possible. But…I’m not in the job of prognosticating on the economy …

“I’m in the job of putting in place the tools that allow the economy to thrive and Americans to succeed. Sometimes when I’m talking to my team, I describe us as: I’m the captain and they’re the crew on a ship, going through really bad storms. And no matter how well we’re steering the ship, if the boat’s rocking back and forth and people are getting sick and they’re being buffeted by the winds and the rain, … at a certain point, if you’re asking, ‘Are you enjoying the ride right now?,’ folks are going to say, ‘No.’ And are they going to say, ‘Do you think the captain’s … doing a good job?’? People are going say, ‘You know what? A good captain would have had us in some smooth waters and sunny skies, at this point.’ And I don’t control the weather. What I can control are the policies we’re putting in place to make a difference in people’s lives.”

KROFT: “Did you overpromise? Did you underestimate how difficult this was going to be?”

OBAMA: “I didn’t overpromise. And I didn’t underestimate how tough this was going to be. I always believed that this was a long-term project. … And, you know, for individual Americans, who are struggling right now, they have every reason to be impatient. Reversing structural problems in our economy that have been building up for two decades — that was going to take time. It was going to take more than a year. It was going to take more than two years. It was going to take more than one term. Probably takes more than one president.”

President Obama predicts unemployment could drop to 8% by next year in ‘60 Minutes’ interview

What Obama actually said, in response to a question about whether we might see 8% unemployment by Election Day 2012.

“I think it’s possible. But I’m not in the job of prognosticating on the economy. I’m in the job of putting in place the tools that allow the economy to thrive and Americans to succeed. … I always believed that this was a long-term project. And you know, for individual Americans, who are struggling right now, they have every reason to be impatient. Reversing structural problems in our economy that have been building up for two decades, that was going to take time. It was going to take more than a year. It was going to take more than two years. It was going to take more than one term. Probably takes more than one president.

Perusing the media this morning, it’s apparently too late. Mark Halperin ignored the context of the president’s full answer, as did Business Week and a host of other major outlets.

Bruce Bartlett, a former Reagan adviser who is a harsh critic of the current Republican party explained why.

“Basically we’re still stuck in the situation we were three years ago and we haven’t made any progress at all except that our problems are much worse because of political reasons, because we now have a crazy party in charge of one of the Houses of our Congress and they won’t allow anything to happen because it’s in their vested interest to make things worse,” Bartlett explained in his typically exasperated way. “Plus they have a theory that is completely nuts…. I’m very depressed. I’d love to see some program like this [paper] enacted. I see zero chance of it happening. The most we can hope for is that a complete crazy person like Newt Gingrich gets the Republican nomination, the Republicans lose so badly that they lose control of the House and don’t get control of the Senate and then maybe in a year we can finally talk about doing something rational such as what is discussed in this paper.”

Yes, I noticed earlier this week that PBO had gotten a new scarf. Someone here on TOD mentioned during the Xmas Tree Lighting last week that it was time for PBO to get a new scarf (they were tired of seeing the same old burgundy one he’s worn since the 2009 Inauguration!) and maybe Michelle or the girls should get him a new one as a gift for the holidays. Maybe just maybe Michelle was reading TOD and saw the suggestion. You think?😉

Nevertheless, new scarf or not, PBO still looks ravishing as heck–especially in the photos posted, and especially photo #5 where he’s paired with VP Biden who ‘s looking pretty savvy as well.🙂 🙂 🙂

I wonder if these”spoiled brat” white liberals are even liberals? Is it possible to be a liberal while harboring such a strong sense of entitlement? Well, perhaps it is possible to be an ‘intellectual’ liberal, but not really an ’emotional’ liberal; someone capable of empathizing with the on-going struggles of those who can–who MUST–CONTINUE to struggle even in the face of soul-wrecking, mind-maimng, life-threatening resistance. As long as the fight must continue, the enthusiasm must continue, unity must continue, faithfulness must continue. The small victories are celebrated as a prerequisite to winning more–not as an occasion to undermine the leader of the troops, or worse to abandon ship!

The Professional Left definitely = “intellectual liberals” — it’s all a mind exercise, parlor talk for them. They pontificate, trade snarky barbs, wow each other with their “witty” banter. They think they are DOING something because they’re TALKING and THEORIZING. For an intellectual liberal, they think they supported someone simply because they gave a good opinion about them. They think navel-gazing = action. Because they’ve never had their asses on the line or their lives threatened, they don’t really know the meaning of sacrifice. Bratty and entitled, that’s what they are.

Chipsticks – you are so bad! Yes, it’s gonna be a long day with you toying with us with these……um……gulp…..nice pics of our…..Commander. WHEW! That was a hard sentence to write without going in the wrong direction. 🙂

Meanwile – NAVY has scored twice in the second half. MUST….CONCENTRATE….ON….THE…..GAME!

Yes, I think they do… I think it is because men know his sincerity, they see or sense he is genuine, and I suspect many of them truly admire the role model PBO sets for young men and boys, in that he is a man who truly loves his wife and family, who is not ashamed or embarrassed to show that love, and is who he says he is!

“…men know his sincerity, they see or sense he is genuine, and I suspect many of them truly admire the role model PBO sets for young men and boys, in that he is a man who truly loves his wife and family, who is not ashamed or embarrassed to show that love, and is who he says he is!”

Thank you so much, Pamela, for expressing exactly how I, as a man, feel about our beloved President. And for me, as a person of color, I am proud to have a man on the world stage who is not only charismatic and self confident, but who also represents the best in Black intellect that has been so maligned over the ages.

President Obama was smoooooth during the interview. I swear, he can talk about any subject with anyone and knows minute details, names, facts and always does it in a charming, personable, likable way. Just a brilliant, multi-talented person, our president.

Mitt Romney: ‘We’re Going To Have To Make Changes Like The Ones Paul Ryan Proposed’
Benjy Sarlin December 9, 2011, 1:36 PM

Asked by an audience member at a rally whether he would sign Ryan’s plan, Romney danced around the question but made clear that he had plenty of love for the Wisconsin congressman’s approach.

“When his plan came out I applauded it as a very important step, I said my plan would be a little different,” Romney said. “This is a place where Speaker Gingrich and I disagree. He called this ‘right-wing social engineering.’ I believe it is a very important step; to protect Medicare and to protect Social Security we’re going to have to make changes like the ones Paul Ryan proposed.”

hopefruit2, you have heard that Mitt ‘the flip flopper liar” Romney has finally come out and said he supports the Paul Ryan’s plan to destroy Medicare. He sees that the wind is not blowing his way so he flip flop on this matter.

Palestinian officials reacted furiously on Saturday to Newt Gingrich’s assertion that they are an “invented” people, accusing the Republican presidential hopeful of incitement and staging a “cheap stunt” to court the Jewish vote.

Gingrich’s remarks struck at the heart of Palestinian sensitivities about the righteousness of their struggle for an independent state and put him at odds not only with the international community but with all but an extremist fringe in Israel. Mainstream Israelis, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, support the idea of an independent Palestine alongside Israel as part of a final peace agreement.

In footage released Friday, the former House speaker told the Jewish Channel, a U.S. cable TV network, that the Palestinians were an “invented people.”

“Remember, there was no Palestine as a state – (it was) part of the Ottoman Empire. I think we have an invented Palestinian people who are in fact Arabs and historically part of the Arab community and they had the chance to go many places,” Gingrich said according to a video excerpt posted online.

They forget they don’t exist in a buble. As the saying goes, words have consequences. I said before, I want to see how the next President, in 2017, if a republican, will be rec’d worldwide given how the representation of the whole party on displyay at this time is utterly ridiculous looking at this point.

Karzai will not seek third term: spokesman
By Agence France-Presse
Saturday, December 10, 2011

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is not secretly planning to change the country’s constitution to seek a third term in power, according to his spokesman. Recent media reports, citing a document set out by Germany’s foreign intelligence service, said Karzai was seeking special dispensation to guide the country through uncertainty after NATO ends its combat mission in 2014. But Aimal Faizi said Karzai, the only leader in Afghanistan since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the Taliban, was not planning to change the constitution, which allows two terms as president.

“Karzai has no intention to remain in power after his second term,” Faizi told AFP. “The president has made it very clear, including in his loya jirga speech, that he will not run again,” he said, referring to a speech at a traditional gathering of elders last month. “He has no plan to run again. He’d rather give the chance to someone new.

Yes they do. You are right. It’s his power. His unpretentious swagger and his seemingly unearthly unflappability. People are probing to see if he’s real or hype and the deeper they look the more they see he is the real deal in a world that craves and needs authenticity.

Romney: Scientists can figure out global warming 50 years from now
By Muriel Kane
Friday, December 9, 2011

When asked about his views on climate change at a campaign event, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney replied that the earth might be getting warmer, but that his top priority as president would be to increase energy production in the United States.

“I’m not a scientist, so I don’t know the answer to these things,” he told the questioner. “I think the earth is getting warmer. May be wrong. I think we probably contribute something to it, but I don’t know if we contribute a little or a lot. And therefore, when I come to the policies I’d put in place, I do not support cap and trade policies, which raise the cost of energy.”

“Scientists will figure that out ten, twenty, fifty years from now,” he concluded. “But the right policy for me is, use our domestic sources of energy — including our renewables, and our gas, and our coal, and our nuclear, and our oil — and that’s the right course for America.”

I have yet to understand (and I’m not saying this about Willard because he is not an Evangelical) why some Evangelical Christians don’t believe in Global warming or Climate change. Do they actual believe that God our Creator would create this world and all its beauty and then let it just ruin itself? It’s man-made, man always messes up the perfect thing that God creates.

Does this denial originate from evangelical circles or from the power brokers behind the GOP and the right wing propaganda machine? The gang of oil barons who will benefit if clean energy are not developped and the price of oil goes up…

He’s so noncommittal in every answer, giving himself plenty of room to wiggle out of any position. To say “I’m not a scientist, so I can’t have a position on that” is as stupid as Megan McCain saying she wasn’t born in historical times, so can’t be expected to have any knowledge of what happened before she was born. If Romney wants to be leader of the free world, then he better get more adept at forming an opinion based on available information, and having a core of beliefs. As the “business person” that he claims to be – one would think that he’s able to look at the long view, and not just at the immediate term.

Loved seeing the President at the game. My brother is at the game in Landover with some friends (goes to all the Navy games). I grew up in Annapolis, so we are Navy fans. Love that the President and VP Biden made this year’s game so special. Tied at the half…too bad the POTUS will now move to the Army side. GO NAVY!!

Thank you Claire! My Dad was a chief petty officer in WWII, I also grew up in MD, but have no affinity towards sports teams….. I just hope your brother gets a good look at our President, maybe even to shake his hand! It would be fun just to be in that stadium with PBO and VPB! I bet the energy there is electric!

One of Wisconsin’s longest-serving politicians — and arguably the highest profile Democrat to suggest he would challenge Gov. Scott Walker in a recall election — denounced the Republican governor Thursday during a rally at the La Crosse recall headquarters.
Obey, who represented northern Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District for 42 years before stepping down last year, previously spent six years in the state Legislature. He said he never imagined the politics he’s witnessed this year.
“Wisconsin has been the national leader in politics that benefit working people,” he said. “Walker has taken that and turned it upside down.”
In a fiery stump speech, Obey railed on Walker’s policies and politics alike, blaming him for the deep partisan rancor in Madison, cutting education funding, attempting to silence dissent and disenfranchising voters.
He accused Walker of practicing “politics of envy” — scapegoating teachers and public workers and encouraging resent of their health and retirement benefits.
“That’s tearing people down instead of building people up,” he said.

Obey would do well because he has said he’d only serve out the Walker term. He could talk about all his time in Wisconsin politics where both sides worked together, and how Walker came in and destroyed all that by having a secret agenda he didn’t run on.

With Russ intent on sitting out, Rep. Obey is probably the top recruit.

The future of nonprofit news organizations has hit an unexpected roadblock in the agency that determines their tax-exempt status: The Internal Revenue Service. Nonprofit news organizations applying for tax-exempt status are running into long delays as the IRS bundles them together as “precedential” and studies whether they qualify for the status under 501(c)(3). While animal protection and “fostering national or international amateur sports competition” are tax-exempt activities listed in the 501(c)(3) statute, journalism is not, and the agency’s historical position has been that newspapers or similar publications are commercial enterprises.

And one former director of the exempt-organizations division at the IRS says the agency seems to be leaning toward the position that traditional news doesn’t qualify as a tax-exempt activity. An IRS spokeswoman won’t comment on what exactly the agency is reviewing or how long it might take to issue its determination, but says nonprofit-news applications “have been centralized for consistency and are being worked in our DC office.”

Investigative outlet The Austin Bulldog applied in August 2009 and got its IRS approval six weeks later. Conservative provocateur James O’Keefe III’s Project Veritas, famous for taking down ACORN and for using dubious journalistic practices (which in one case landed O’Keefe a misdemeanor conviction), applied well after two of the delayed nonprofits but the IRS approved its application several months ago, something that irks the straight-journalism practitioners.

Thank you, Mitt Romney, for providing us with so much material …about you!~

December 07, 2011 11:00 AM
In ’02 Romney Supported Roe v Wade Decision and Spending State Funds For Abortion Services
By John Amato

A recent Internet video highlighted comments made during a 1994 debate against Sen. Edward Kennedy in which Romney declared that he supported a “woman’s right to choose.” Romney quickly distanced himself from those comments, winning praise from conservative pundits. But a look at Romney’s second campaign, the 2002 race for Massachusetts governor, reveals that his pro-choice stance and support for embryonic stem cell research were clear and ardent less than five years ago.

In the spring of 2002 Romney completed a Planned Parenthood questionnaire. Signed by Romney and dated April 9, 2002, it contained these responses:

Do you support the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade? YES

Do you support state funding of abortion services through Medicaid for low-income women? YES

In 1998, the FDA approved the first packaging of emergency contraception, also known as the “morning after pill.” Emergency contraception is a high dose combination of oral contraceptives that if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, can safely prevent a pregnancy from occurring. Do you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception? YES

Romney also completed the questionnaire of the National Abortion Rights Action League, or NARAL (now called NARAL Pro-Choice America), with this statement: I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose. This choice is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not mine and not the government’s. The truth is no candidate in the governor’s race in either party would deny women abortion rights. So let’s end an argument that does not exist and stop these cynical and divisive attacks that are made only for political gain.

Thank you, aquagranny911! my Dad was a chief petty officer in WWII, but I am sports neutral! Could it be growing up in MD with 9 brothers left me unable to choose a spectator sport I enjoy (other than skiing!)

Several prominent Palestinian leaders reacted strongly to GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s comments labeling them “invented” people and “Arabs” Friday afternoon. “The most racist remark I have ever seen,” said Saeb Erekat, a top negotiator for a new Palestinian state and a close advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas. “This is the lowest point of thinking anyone can reach. Such thinking should be an alarm and concern for the world.” According to CNN, Erekat added that Gingrich comments were a sign of “how really despicable things can get” in American politics.

Palestine Prime Minister Salam Fayyad lambasted Gingrich over his lack of historical knowledge. “The Palestinian people inhabited the land since the dawn of history, and intend to remain in it until the end times,” he said. “People like Gingrich must consult history, as it seems that all what he knows about the region is the history of the Ottoman era.”

In addition to being racist, and estranged from historical fact, I think the timing of his comment, a few days before tonight’s GOP debate, was a cynical move on Gingrich’s part.

Tonight he gets to be the center of attention and will probably be asked to clarify his statement, which will give him a platform to be more offensive and then the other neo-clowns will feel obligated to be more offensive in order to prove their far right bona fides.

I wish that right wingers would play politics in a different way; that doesn’t constantly feed off bigotry of one group or another in order to appeal to their base.

I think people underestimate just how bad the GOP are making the country look in the eyes of the world – especially because people know that if George Bush could be President twice, then anything is possible. I heard someone on NPR asking last night if the Europeans knew that the Eurozone crisis was making them look really crazy and stupid in the eyes of the world. I wanted to write to him to ask if he remembers the debt limit fiasco, or whether he’s been watching the GOP debates, and listening to the rationale of the GOP electorate in justifying their choices. They need to reign themselves in.

DENVER (Reuters) – A Colorado judge ruled on Friday that the state’s education law is unconstitutional because it underfunds public schools and fails to provide a “thorough and uniform” education to all students. In a 183-page decision, Denver District Court Judge Sheila Rappaport said the state legislature needs to craft a new school-funding mechanism.

But Rappaport stayed her ruling pending an expected appeal by the state to the Colorado Supreme Court. “Evidence establishes that the finance system must be revised to assure that funding is rationally related to the actual costs of providing a thorough and uniform system of public education,” Rappaport wrote. “It is also apparent that increased funding will be required.”

I think after the total nonsense he’s had to put up with the press and the nutty GOP, he takes some well deserved time and rest, while writing his memoirs. He will be sought out like we’ve never seen on the world stage.

Yep. I think it will be the works of Carter and Clinton to the eleventy billionth degree. He’s the highest paid President and will be the highest paid ex-President. I think he’ll start with building on the things that are being put in place in Africa. Should be fascinating.

Hi Chipsticks and TOD family. Oh, I have had an overdose of great medicine today. Thanks for all of the dosages, Chips. I have no idea of the number of pills taken from our haven here and the ones from the tv game, but I know that it is the medicine that my doctors ordered. What a fine CIC we have. POB looked so handsome and what a presence he has no matter where he goes. I hope that is cashmere around that handsome neck of our beloved POTUS.

I am so proud of our POTUS and both Army and Navy. We have much to be so grateful for in our country. Let us not be distracted. We will stay focus, work hard and have fun as we go about to win this again.

I love my TOD family and our beloved Chips. Oh, about the President’s skin. I would be willing to say with much respect, that the cocoa butter legs wrapped around you daily,, great green vegetables, great cooked sweet potatoes, great fresh fish, and lots of water will do it everytime. Speak with our beautiful FLOTUS. HZ

Oh, about the President’s skin. I would be willing to say with much respect, that the cocoa butter legs wrapped around you daily,, great green vegetables, great cooked sweet potatoes, great fresh fish, and lots of water will do it everytime. Speak with our beautiful FLOTUS.

😳 Oh my.

Break It Down, HZ, Break it ALL the WAY DOWN! FLOTUS got my President looking like a shiny new penny. And you sound like you know whereof you speak, missy. Have mercy!

Chipsticks, I must admit that I was part of the cocoa butter back some time ago because I use it daily, and especially if I want to really show off the legs. In a good way.

However, I must confess that I will take responsibility for being naughty today. But we will be going through this for another 5 years, so we really need to invest in stocking up on some great cocoa butter. Love you all so much.HZ

You know Lisa, the one – the ONE! – person I thought would never occupy the naughty mat was HZ because she’s always struck me as a good and well-behaved person ….. and here we are, she’s learnt from you masters and is now out-naughtying the lot of you. This is a dark, dark day on TOD.

hahahhahahahahahhahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahha!!!!!! We are so sorry Ms. Chips, for being such a corrupting influence! It’s just that it’s PBO and we can’t help it.😳 So really, it’s not our faults, it’s PBO’s! Who told him to be so gorgeous? 😉 tehe!😆

Chipsticks, I just love you and this beautiful place. Lisa, how cute is this? Chipsticks, you are the best. Lisa, I love your energy and your uplifting spirit. Thanks for being in my life. You all make me light up, when I am feeling a little down with all that we see our POTUS having to so much. So our family here brings so much to our lives.

Hey Chips, don’t punish HZ. You know it doesn’t take much PBO-gazing to get us ladies worked up. Plus, HZ is giving us ladies some good advice. In fact, I’m headed to the shower right now . . . and I won’t forget my cocoa butter. May be a long nite for hubby and me. 😉

It sounds like NCW is moving in the right direction. “Bring about the change that you want, NCW!!! ” Have a great evening and many more to come. It is so precious to have those moments in your memory to enjoy and revisit. Life can be so delicious when you bring the fun and mystery into the moments with the one you really do love and really do care about.

Chips, haven’t you always heard me say to keep the candles lit. That is one reason why I love my candles. They will always set the mood of warmth, interesting conversations, and a sweetness that gracefully lifts the spirit of our souls. So I am going to light some candles for our beautiful fun day here with our TOD Family and our wonderful Chipsticks. Thanks so much, Chipsticks.HZ

Ms Chips, you are too quick!lol And Ms HZ you are amazing in your naughtiness! Now I gotta get some greens, and some fish (fresh), and some sweet potatoes—I got the coco butter and water—now where’s the uh…uh…well….

Hi theo67, yes, I can be a little naughty at times. That is the fun part of my personality. However, it is so much fun to have our light but respectful moments within our wonderful TOD family. There is no other like us. I really do mean that. Plus, it is so wonderful to see our beautiful President and First Lady bring out the wholesome and lovely aspect of seeing the beauty and love in each other.

I have NOT seen a president in my lifetime, who has had this lovely effect on young and old in a political season. It is so refreshing. Our President and First Lady are beautiful, intelligent, loving, and caring, and it is so NICE. Let us enjoy it, and I know that we do it all with deep respect for our POTUS and FLOTUS. I know that about our TOD family.

You’re a stronger person than I am, Britt. Soccer and basketball are my winter pastimes.

What’s funny about the billionaire team owners in US sports is that they keep crowing about the wonders of the free market, while American sports are socialized to an extent that would make the GOP base reach for the pitchforks if it obtained in any other sphere of American life. In world football, if you succeed you win championships; if you suck, you get sent down to a lower league. In this country’s sports leagues — except for baseball — failure is rewarded every year. Add in to that local tax breaks and taxpayer funded stadium deals and it makes me want to ask these owners: Why are you afraid of capitalism?

HEY, I FEEL THE SAME WAY THIS YR. ABOUT B-BALL!!!! IM AN AVID FAN…BUT I WILL SIT OUT THIS YEAR DUE TO ALL THE DRAMA…MY FOCUS FOR 2012 IS TO HELP GET PRESIDENT OBAMA RE-ELECTED..OUT SIDE OF FAMILY…..NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As the mother of a son (he’s in his 40s, but when I look at him, even today, I see the same sweet look he had as a pre-schooler!), this photo is just so touching to me. I love the vulnerability in PBO’s sweet face. The childlike quality he has of enjoying himself, everywhere he goes. His evident good heart and good will. The inevitable “could somebody get me something warm to drink?” look.

Gorgeous!!!!!! This man’s smile takes my breath away. So glad he gets some cheers and some fun once in awhile. Told my husband that PBO’s been looking very concerned lately and no wonder. The weight of so much responsibility and the frustration with so much obstruction and NO credit seems too much for anyone to bear, but he never gives up. What an amazing man.

Wow, Chip. I really really REALLY needed that. Over the past couple of days, the negativity on Twitter-land got to me a little bit and today I felt really down. These photos helps so much. Thanks, honey.

Hi BWD, glad that you came into the great activity here today. Please take care and relax. You put your heart into everything that you engage in BWD, so save some energy for the journey that we all will be making. Thanks for holding your own on Twitter. Relax with your favorite tea or glass of wine.HZ

Hiya BWD, yeah, I noticed the bile levels hitting the roof on Twitter …. funny how those levels rise when things are going well for the President, eg the Kansas speech and the positive reaction to it, unemployment falling, the beyond-magnificent bin Laden reply at the presser, the GOP becoming even more farcical than before, etc, etc. Keep fighting the good fight warrior, we’re gonna win this one😉

PBO is probably consoling the Army cadets. I’m sure he’ll be uber positive and point out how great the Army played, and they did! Great offensive, especially when they intimidated the heck out of that Navy player who then had to throw the ball away! great playing all around, especially since the game ended with a lot of their seniors on the bench. This was the first football game I’ve ever watched and it was well worth the time and effort. I really enjoyed it.

Lisa, I was thinking the same thoughts. I can see him talking to them with so much pride and uplifting comments to them as a team. He has brought so much refreshing energy to these young men and women and their families. Look how the men and women were reaching out to shake his hand. It is just so awesome how he touches the heart of people no matter what the event is that he is attending.

I have not watched a game for the full time, so it was so wonderful to watch and also to see him there with VPOTUS enjoying all of it. He lifts us all up in such a beautiful way. He lifted my spirits today, and I am in bed ill. It shows how the spirit within a person who is not a phony will give your strength. I am so grateful to have him as our POTUS. Thank you, Mr. President.HZ

Hi DF. Thanks for asking. I had a medical scare, but today has been an improvement, if I must say myself. I am naughty by nature, but I mean it all in good taste and respect to all. Having a little fun is a delight.

I love intelligence and great looks in compassionate and caring men. That has always been and will always be a part of who I am. I think it is so beautiful to see that in good and decent men and to express that.

Our POTUS gets so much ugly and awful energy towards him, I think that we recognize the beautiful and refreshing personality that we have in such a great president during our lifetime. And I know that we do it with great respect. We would be the first to jump on anyone who does not give him and our beautiful First Lady that respect. I would be the first to do so.

Luckily Pres. was going from the winning side to the losing side at the half and not vice versa – because if it was the latter scenario you can bet the MSM would make issue out of him wanting to be with the winning side.

OMG now saw HZ’s comment! HZ girlfriend, I think you are leading the pack of naughty ladies…”I would be willing to say with much respect, that the cocoa butter legs wrapped around you daily,”😆😆 too much😆. What did you ladies eat today that’s causing these comments???? or should we put the blame ALL on PBO for looking at Miche the way he does; like she’s a hot potato pie or should I say a tub of cocoa butter?😆

Oh Chips, how did you know that is the same jar that I have in my beauty drawer. There is a great natural butter from Africa that is wonderful as well. It is very difficult to find, but if you see it, get it. Just keep the beauty section in your bath well supplied with one of these. It is great for the skin and, ladies, there is nothing more sexy than looking at a beautiful set of legs on a lovely woman with a great outfit on.HZ

Is this a pic from today? I hadn’t seen gloves on the President earlier–did that cadet give him a glove, gloves? Wow! Wouldn’t that be something? Okay, I’m being silly.

It’s been a great day, Chips! I’ve enjoyed all of your work and cleverness and everyone else’s good humor and links. Picked me right up! I tell you, BWD, this place is an effective anti-depressant, with no negative side-effects. Thank you!

Ok, who’s liveblogging the debate tonight? It should be popcorn worthy.

Mitt Romney, who’s watched opponent Newt Gingrich speed ahead to frontrunner status in the GOP presidential horserace, said he’ll use Saturday night’s presidential debate in Iowa to highlight his differences with the former House Speaker. “I’ll be doing that tonight,” Romney said during a surprise stop at his Iowa campaign headquarters in Des Moines on Saturday. “I’m sure we’ll get plenty of opportunities to talk about our similarities and our differences.”

(CNN) – Mitt Romney, who’s watched opponent Newt Gingrich speed ahead to frontrunner status in the GOP presidential horserace, said he’ll use Saturday night’s presidential debate in Iowa to highlight his differences with the former House speaker.

“I’ll be doing that tonight,” Romney said during a surprise stop at his Iowa campaign headquarters in Des Moines on Saturday. “I’m sure we’ll get plenty of opportunities to talk about our similarities and our differences.”

I realize that the world watches our debates too. I watched the debates in England on tv when I was on a trip to Ireland in 2010. It was quite interesting. If the Americans cannot even be sure they can trust what Romney says how can the world leaders trust anything he says?

I just have to say, if there are any college hoops fans here, I just watched the most amazing game. In.U. beat #1 Kentucky at the buzzer with a 3. The whole game was unbelievable. My daughter and IU grad son in law were there—-they got to see one of the best college games ever. Bedlam there now—-hope everyone stays safe.

I hope you had a great birthday, Pamela.
HZ I’m so glad that the medications you have been given are improving how you are feeling. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Chips, thank you for providing this great place to come to everyday.

Thank all of you for this inspirational site…I come here just to read and look at the beautiful pictures that Ms. Chipstick and others post…and read all the wonderful things all of you have to say about our so wonderful, but sometimes weary President. I love it here, and come when I have the time to just get a little peace of mind from all of the nonsense being spewed about this great family elsewhere…be blessed everyone and have a very Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all! This site brings such tears to my eyes!